Increase Efficiency and Save Money

Posted by Frank under Homeowner, Tips

Appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators consume a considerable amount of electricity. In fact, a refrigerator is often a home’s heaviest electricity user. If you have a new manufactured energy efficient refrigerator, you can still save on electricity by following a few simple energy saving tips.

Whether or not you have an energy-efficient refrigerator, you can take advantage of the following tips to increase efficiency.

• Adjust your freezer temperature to 0 degrees F, but it may take a long time to thaw foods. Keep the refrigerator at 38 degrees F or colder (any warmer will allow foods to spoil).

• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. The cold air that escapes when the door is opened is replaced by warm air that must be cooled all over again.

• Be sure the refrigerator and freezer doors seal tightly. You can test the seal by closing the door on a piece of paper. If you’re able to remove it easily with the door closed, it’s probably time to replace the rubber gasket around the door’s perimeter.

• Keep the freezer stocked. Frozen items in the freezer help keep neighboring items frozen. You can also add containers or bags of ice if you are unable to keep your freezer full of food.

• Don’t over-stuff your refrigerator. A full refrigerator has to work harder to stay cool than a moderately full one.

• Keep the refrigerator’s cooling coils free of dust. This will prevent the refrigerator from over working and increase energy efficiency.

If you have other tips please share them with us by commenting here.

Tags: energy tips, freezer, Homeowner, refrigerators, save money

Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and the American Worker

Posted by Frank under Homeowner, Tips

The strongest words in the title are the ‘American Worker’, who truly makes many sacrifices, and continues to overcome the economic landslide. We overcome many obstacles to maintain our lifestyle and to support our families, but it’s not easy.

American’s have gone through some trying times, but we will survive by adapting and expanding into new territories through research and discovery. It’s important to look at the big picture and never become so complacent in our lives or you may get a rude awakening.

You should ask yourself, what am I doing different today compared to 2 years ago? Have you explored other opportunities? Have you changed the way you do business? Sometimes it’s the small stuff that can make the biggest difference, but be patient.

Stop putting things off until tomorrow:

Evaluate your cost of living, and find ways you can save money. Here are just a few examples on how to save money.

1. Heating and cooling account for nearly half of the typical home’s energy usage.

a. Have your furnace regularly maintained by a professional.

b. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home’s temperature with your daily routine.

c. Install or add attic insulation if existing insulation is less than six inches thick.

d. Install dimmer switches and motion sensors to control lights when you are away.

2. Save money on groceries. Making small changes can net big rewards to your pocket.

a. Make a shopping list.

b. Avoid displays meant to tempt you. Grocery stores spend quite a bit of time planning how to tempt you to impulse shop.

c. Don’t go to the store hungry. To avoid overspending while at the grocery store, don’t go to the store hungry.

d. Avoid purchasing convenience foods and empty calorie snack foods.

e. Calculate the cost of meats by serving rather than per pound.

These are just a few things you could do to reduce costs. I am sure if you look around your home you will discover other ways to save even more.

Tags: lower your bills, reduce cost, save money, workers

How to Save Gas and Money

Posted by Frank under Business News, Tips

It’s costing all of us more and more money to fill up the gas tank. And while that’s unlikely to change anytime soon, there are some things you can do to get the most value per gas dollar.

The difference between the most expensive gas station and the cheapest gas station is thirty to forty cents on average, according to reports.

Here are some general rules of thumb:

The richest areas of town often charge more for gas.

Gas stations near major highways often charge more for gas because land is generally more valuable.

Service stations with auto repair shops or car washes often have more expensive gas.

You may also find good deals at gas stations affiliated with wholesale clubs. These retailers often sell cheaper gas as a way to get people in the door to buy their other products. But bear in mind you may have to pay for a membership.

What time you get to the pump is also important. According to GasPriceWatch.com, filling up on Wednesday morning is the best time to buy gasoline. That’s because prices usually move up for the weekend, after which they settle, hitting the low point by Wednesday.

And it makes sense to buy your gas in the morning when it’s the coolest time of day. This is when gasoline is most dense. Gas pumps charge by the volume of gasoline, not the density, so in colder temperatures you’ll get more for your dollar.

Change Your Driving Style:

Changing from an aggressive hard accelerating, hard braking, driving style to a more relaxed style incorporating gentle acceleration and cruise control on the highway, can improve fuel efficiency by as much as 35 percent, according to an
Edmunds.com study.

Tags: cheapest gas, Gas, oil, save money, tricks